#oncofertility

🔬 11th International Congress on Cancer Science and Radiology

📍 Tokyo, Japan | 🗓️ July 22–23, 2026

I’m honored to contribute to a vital discussion on Fertility Preservation in Cancer Patients at this global gathering of experts dedicated to advancing cancer care.

As cancer survival rates continue to improve, quality of life after treatment has become a central focus. Fertility preservation is no longer a secondary concern—it is an essential component of patient-centered oncology care.

💡 Key Highlights of the Session: • Impact of chemotherapy and radiotherapy on reproductive health • Fertility preservation options: oocyte, embryo, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation • Emerging techniques and innovations in oncofertility • Multidisciplinary collaboration between oncologists, radiologists, and reproductive specialists • Ethical considerations and patient counseling strategies

🤝 This session aligns with the congress theme: “Bridging the Gap: Multidisciplinary Approaches in Cancer Science and Radiology”, emphasizing integrated care models that support both survival and life beyond cancer. Together, we can empower patients with informed choices, preserve hope, and redefine survivorship. Looking forward to engaging discussions and meaningful collaborations in Tokyo!

Oncofertility A connection between the two fields of medical science, oncology and endocrinology, is known as Oncofertility. Basically, it forms a bridge between the effects of cancer on a person and reproduction ability of an individual.

What Is Oncofertility?

Onco-fertility refers to the field of medicine that bridges the specialities of oncology (cancer) and fertility of an individual in order to increase the reproductive potential of a cancer survivor. It is basically any fertility service provided to a recently cancer diagnosed patient who wishes to have their own family in the future. As in the past, these patients had to choose between treating their cancer and preserving their fertility. With the early diagnosis and contacting a reproductive specialist, patients can have both.

Who Is Eligible?

Any individual who has been recently diagnosed with cancer and has been referred by a cancer centre or oncologist is eligible for care.

What Services Are Offered?

A whole range of service that facilitate the patients specific requirement are covered based on his/her history and wish.

Ovarian Transposition is the method of protecting the ovaries from pelvic radiation by moving the ovaries out of the pelvis through surgical techniques.

Egg Freezing / Oocyte Cryopreservation allows a woman to store/freeze her eggs for future fertilization with the sperm of her partner/donor. Hormonal stimulation of the ovaries is needed for maturation of multiple eggs that can be harvested by ultrasound guided aspiration and frozen for future use. This process may require 2-6 weeks to complete.

Embryo banking is the method of preserving the embryo for future implantation. Hormonal stimulation of the ovaries is needed for maturation of multiple eggs that is harvested and fertilized immediately with her partner’s sperm to create embryos which are then frozen at very low temperatures (-196oC) using specialised freezing equipments.

Testicular Sperm Aspiration or Extraction it is a minor surgical procedure where the sperm is retrieved directly from the epididymis or testes, and is frozen for future use. This is done only when sperms cannot be collected through ejaculation.

Sperm freezing-  details

Sperm freezing and storage is the procedure whereby sperm cells are frozen to preserve them for future use. By using special technology and then keeping sperm in liquid nitrogen at minus 1960C.

Testicular tissue banking

Testicular tissue banking is the process in which testicular tissue, including cells that produce sperm and sperm itself, is removed and frozen.

Ovarian cortex freezing

I'm starting to come out of a cold-induced haze, so I guess it's time for an update.  Here are some things that have been happening:

Tornadoes.  Those happened.  And happened.  And happened.  I had more than a couple of scares seeing updates on Facebook or the news about tornado warnings in towns where I have family.  Luckily everyone is okay and I'll be seeing everyone in about a month.  I'm still trying to figure out how to move everyone out of Oklahoma for the month of May every year though.

Babes.  We met with the doc and we're looking at IUI and single embryo IVF.  More procedures, more fun.  Travel is getting in the way right now though.

Work.  I'm in the process of transitioning out because my last day is at the end of this month.  This should give me time to really get back on my feet - figure out how to maintain my weight with something other than McDonald's so hopefully I won't keep getting sick all the time, do some yoga to rebuild my lost muscles and hopefully stretch out these muscles that keep acting up, take a huge amount of stress off, get some good sleep, maybe even keep up with a personal life (I have about 200 emails I'm trying to respond to... I'm not ignoring you, I promise!!!).  The docs that I've told so far are super happy.  I'm not ready to deal with this yet, but you can probably expect a post about letting cancer win/losing a sense of self-worth/I should have taken some real time off a long time ago instead of continually pushing myself way too far any time I felt even slightly like a human.

Body.  The back pain went away, then I went to yoga and it came back with a vengeance.  It's finally starting to go away again, but only after a few nights of not much sleep.  I think that combined with the roller coaster of the past few weeks between Oklahoma and work helped me lose the battle with this cold I that have this week.  It's more draining and annoying than anything.